Powder separator and dispenser



Ap 1, 1952 R. F. BERND'T POWDER sEPARAToR Agn DISPENSER Filed April 19.1947 Patented pr. 1, 1951? POWDER SEPARATOR AND DISPENSER Richard F.Berndt, Racine, Wis., assignor to Virkotype Corporation, a corporationoi' Virginia Application April 19, 1947, Serial No. 742,759

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a powder separator and dispenser, and whilethe same is particularly applicable to the process of raised printing,in which powder is distributed upon a traveling sheet or web of materialcontaining a wet impression, it will be apparent that the same may bevariously employed, such as in grading finely divided or pulverizedparticles according to weight.

The invention has primarily for its object to provide a comparativelysimple, fast, and efcient mechanism, for separating the light and heavyparticles in pulverized or powdered material.

Incidental to the foregoing, a more specific object of the inventionresides in the provision of a centrifugal air separator equipped with arotary discharge valve for uniform delivery of the heavier separatedparticles.

A further object in connection with raised printing machines, is toprovide suction means connnunicating with the separator for removingsurplus powder from a printed surface for cleaning, grading, andsubsequent distribution.

Another object is to provide means for controlling the character ofseparation, whereby particles of varying predetermined weight may besegregated for distribution.

In addition to the foregoing, other objects will appear as thedescription proceeds, and while'the accompanying drawing illustrates onecomplete physical form of the invention constructed in accordance withthe best mode so far devised, it is to be understood that changes in theprecise embodiment of the invention are contemplated within the scope ofthe appended claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view, partially in section, of a deviceincorporating principles of the present invention and illustrating thedevice applied to a raised printing machine;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on theline 2-2 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 3 is a similar view taken on the line 3--3 of Fig. 2; and

pressure is created through a suction line 5 com- .municating with oneside of the casing. A nozzle 4Ii carried by the separator casing, andcommunisuction head l for collecting surplus powder from Fig. 4 is aschematic illustration of a modified a printed and dusted sheet ofmaterial, traveling on a belt 8 over a carrier roll 9 in a raisedprinting machine.

The distributing valve 3 comprises a pair of circular end plates I0, theinner faces of which are provided with spaced radial grooves II forreception of the ends of a plurality of ns I2.

The circular end plates I0 are mounted on a shaft I3, which is groovedlongitudinally for re-` Y'ception of the inner edges of the ns I2.

The ends of the shaft I3 are journaled in bearings I4 carried by thestand I, and in that form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3,the valve is continuously rotated by a suitable driving connectionywitha sprocket or pulley I5 secured to one end of the shaft I3.

Obviously, the ns I2 serve to divide the valve 3 into a plurality ofannular disposed pockets, which receive powdered material from thecentrifugal separator 4 through an orice I6 formed in the valve body 2,and providing a communication between a depending delivery spout I8,comprising part of the centrifugal separator, and a semi-circular recessI1 in the valve body in which the valve 3 rotates.

It is important that the recess I'I have no underhanging portions uponwhich powder passing through the valve might be supported, because thecharacteristics of the powder with which it is contemplated that myapparatus will be used are such that it will tend to build up on suchunderhanging portions and clog the valve. Therefore the circularlyarcuate recess II must not subtend an angle of more than For the purposeto be later described in connection with the operation of the presentdevice, in some instances it is desired to provide a variablecirculation of air through the heavier particles prior to their deliveryinto the pockets of the valve 3. One method by which this may beaccomplished is to provide a variable clearance between the outer endsof the radial fins I2 and the annular recess I1 in the valve body 2. TheAiins I2 are, therefore, slidably mounted in the grooves II of thecircular end plates I0 and the longitudinal grooves in the shaft I3. Forradially shifting the ns, the same are provided on their opposite endswith pins I9 that extend through slots 20, formed in the circular endplates I0 and into a series of tangential slots 2l formed in a pair ofannular rings 22, carried by and rotatably adjustable with relation tothe end plates. Set screws 23 serve to lock the rings 22 and ns I2 inadjusted position.

During operation of the machine, pressure within the casing 4 is reducedthrough the suction line 5, and the valve 3 is rotated by the drivesprocket I5, or by gravity as hereinafter described. An initial supplyof powder contained in the chute I' is then released by raising a gateI,

and discharged in a iine stream transversely of the traveling belt 3 toeither sheets or a web of material previously receiving awet or printedimpression, causing a portion of the powder to adhere to the sheet.

The printed and dusted sheet then travels below the suction head I ofthe nozzle 6, and surplus powder not adhered to the sheet is collectedand drawn into the separator casing d by the reduced pressure createdtherein.

Due to the centrifugal air action created within'theseparatOr, theheavier particles of powder are4 discharged through the spout I3 intothe pockets ofthe valve 3, while the lighter particles anddioating dustare removed through the suctionline. Rotation of the valve 3 then causesthe'collected powder to be delivered to chute I' .for 'repeated use.

Thus it will be seen that although the surplus powder is repeatedlyused, the same is continuously cleaned and graded to provide a uniform:supply tothe printed material traveling under the chute I.

Inasmuch as the present dispenser permits the useofacomparatively largeorice through which materialis delivered from the separator to theY.rotary valve, static is reduced to a minimum, andV because of a slight11p-draft pass the valve and through .the separator, afurther separatingaction occurs to remove the fine particles or dust that' might adhere tothe heavier particles discharged into the delivery spout I throughcentrifugal action ofthe separator.

In some instances itmay be desired to eliminateA the external drive of.the rotary valve 3, as shown in the modication illustrated in Fig. 4, inwhich the center `of the valve is oiTset laterally with relation to theaxis of the orifice i5, thus causing over-balance of the valve to affectits rotation.

For the purpose of regulating, grading, and separation of the nelydivided particles to a high degree of accuracy, clearance between thefins I2 and the valve body recess Il' is controlled by radial shiftingof the ns to vary the up-iow of air around the Valve and through theseparator. Radial adjustment of the fins i2 is easily accomplished inthe structure described by loosening the set screws 23 and rotating therings 22, in which the tangential slots engage the pins I9 carried bythe ns to cause the ns to shift inwardly o1' outwardly, depending uponthe direction of rotation of the rings.

An alternate method of introducing a regulated circulation of airthrough the separate heavier' particles prior to their delivery into thevalve pockets, is shown in Fig. 4, in which the valve I2 are notadjustable, but closely fitted to the valve recess Il to providepractically no clearance. Instead an elongated slotl 2d provided in thevalve body, and controlled by a plug valve 25, forms an air passage tothe valve orice I6.

From the foregoing explanation considered in connection with theaccompanying drawing, it

will be apparent that an exceedingly simple and eflicient centrifugalair separator and dispenser has been devised for grading and cleaningpulverized or finely divided powdered particles, and when applied to araised printing machine, a continuous even flow of uniform material isdelivered to a traveling printed sheet, from which excess powder isremoved and cleaned for subsequent use, thusl effecting a materialeconomy in the consumption of powder, and insuring a high quality ofraised printing.

When merely used for grading, the powdered material can be delivereddirectly to the suction head 'I from a hopper or other source of supply,and the collected -heavier particles discharged into a suitablereceiving container.

I claim:

l.- In apparatus of the type described including a centrifugalseparator, a valve for controlling the flow of powder from the separatorwhich comprises a valve body having an inlet orice in its uppersideadapted to receive powder from the separator, a recess in the bottomside of the valve block and in communication with said orifice, saidbottom side of the valve block lying in a substantially horizontal planeand said recess being cireularly.arcuate-in cross section and subtendingan angle of not substantially more than and a dispensing valve mountedto rotate through said-recess,said dispensing valve including spacedradial fins forming. a. plurality of receiving pockets, andsaid finsbeing spaced from the wall of said-recess. toallow passage .of air intosaid separator through said recess and said inletorice.

2. In apparatus yof thertype described including a centrifugalseparator, a-valve. for controlling tliev flow ofA powder fromV theseparator which comprises a valve body having an inlet orifice in itslupper side adapted to receive powder from the separator, adispensing-valve rotatably mounted in the-valve body on a supportingshaft and including lspaced radialnS-mounted in longitudinal grooves inthe shaft and formingy a plurality of receiving pockets, said fins beingspaced from the valve body to allow passage of air into the separatorthrough the valvebody and having pins at their opposite ends, va-pair of4relatively rotatable adjusting plates. ateach of the opposite ends ofthe dispensing valve, and av setscrew for vfixing each, pair of platestogether, theinner plates having radial grooves formedtherein into whichthe ends of the fins extend, the Dins extending through radialj slots insaid inner plates, and the outer'plates having non-radial slots-forreceiving the pins, whereby when the inner and outer plates are rotatedrelative to one another, the iins are moved radially to adjust thespacing between them andthe valve body.

3; In apparatus ofthe type described including a centrifugal separator,a valve asset forth in claim,2 which includes a recess in the bottomside of the valve blockV and in communication with said inlet orince,said recess being adapted to have the dispensing valve rotate through itand being circularly arcuate in crosssection and subtending an angle ofnot more than 180.

4. Inapparatus of the type described including a centrifugal separator,a valve for controlling the ow of powderF from the separator whichcomprises a valve body having an inlet orifice in the upper side adaptedto receive powder from the separator, a recess in the bottom side of thevalve block and in communication with said orilce, said bottom side ofthe valve block lyingv in a substantially horizontal plane and saidrecess being circularly arcuate in cross section and subtending an angleof not substantially more than 180, a dispensing valve mounted to rotatethrough said recess, said dispensing valve including spaced radial finsforming a plurality of receiving pockets, the radially outer edges ofsaid fins being spaced from the wall of said recess to allow passage ofair into said separator through said recess and said inlet orice, andmeans for radially adjusting said fins to regulate the spacing of saidouter fin edges from the recess wall thereby to regulate said passage ofair.

RICHARD E. BERNDT.

REFERENCES C'EED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 789,593 Doriel May 9, 1905 NumberNumber 20 351,481

6 Name Date Broome Nov. 2, 1915 Plaistecl July 9, 1918 Laukhui Nov. 11,1924 MacArthur Dec. 22, 1925 Wallace Aug. 11, 1931 Bramwell Nov. 22,1932 Norman Oct. 3, 1933 ipsius T Oct. 17, 1933 Andrewsiet al. Apr. 3,1934 Smith et al May 28, 1937 Woodward Feb. 22, 1938 Eissmann June 27,1939 Whitlock June 11, 1940 Meyer Jan. 1l, 1944 Wall et al Jan. 23, 1945FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain June 22, 1931

